Dollar Store Budget Challenge: Doll Christmas Display

I thought it would be fun to kick off our Christmas crafting here on the blog with a new feature: the budget challenge! Here’s how these will go…I’ll set a budget, store, and a doll related project to make, and I have to meet that budget, not including tax. Today, the challenge is to make a doll winter display/Christmas party, using only supplies from the Dollar Tree, and for $10 or less.

So most Dollar Trees have a huge amount of Christmas stuff right now, which is where I found a lot of my supplies. First, I decided to get a package of glitter snow drape, to cover the ground and make it seem like a real outdoor party.

Money remaining: $9.

Next, I found these really cute wrapped presents, and since you get 12 to a pack, I thought they were a great deal and would add to the party. I also found these fake candy canes that I thought would look really cool standing up in the snow.

Money remaining: $7

I also found this little nutcracker, and a branch of berries (which I forgot to take a picture of 😛 ).

Money remaining: $5

I also got these battery-powered candles to add to the party.

Money remaining: $4

Now, this was just my decision, but I decided to spend my remaining money on Christmas socks, so that I could make fun outfits for my dolls. You could get other decorations if you don’t want to make outfits.

Now that we’ve got everything, let’s get to work!

First, I covered my area with the snow drape, and glued down my candy canes. I cut off some berry branches and propped them around. I added a nutcracker, too. 🙂 Finally, I broke the hook off of one of the candy canes, then glued it across two others. I glued each one to a stack of the mini presents, and added the fake candles. Done! 😀

Now for the doll outfits. 🙂 For Gigi’s, I used this tutorial by My Froggy Stuff. For Dexter’s I used THIS tutorial, also by MFS. Ginger’s is a tube top, and I made Raven and Operetta’s tops like this:

I cut off the top portion of the sock (the part with the ribbed band).

Then I cut two tiny holes on the sides, and whipstitched around the holes. I hemmed the bottom and seamed it up the side, leaving a gap so that I could add hooks and eyes. 😀

Here are some pics of the finished display! 😀 I can’t wait to show you some of my other Christmas projects soon! 🙂

I’ll be adding some other stuff to this display soon, but for this post I wanted it to be all from the Dollar Store. 🙂